Heuchera plant named &#39;DKIRA95&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Heuchera  cultivar named ‘DKIRA95’ is disclosed, characterized by a large leaf size, small white green flowers, mounded growth habit and full, strong plant structure. The new variety is a  Heuchera , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Heuchera

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DKIRA95’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Heuchera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newHeuchera varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The selfpollination resulting in this new variety was made during January of2009.

The parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asHeuchera ‘HU-7-45’, which was self-pollinated to produce seed, resultingin the new variety ‘DKIRA95’. The new variety was discovered in Augustof 2009 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2009self-pollination, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in January of 2010 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type overmany successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DKIRA95’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DKIRA95’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DKIRA95’ as a new and distinct Heucheracultivar:

1. Large leaf2. White-green flower3. Small flower size4. Mounded plant habit5. Full and strong plant structure

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DKIRA95’ are similar to plants of theparent, Heuchera ‘HU-7-45’in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DKIRA95’ differs in the following;

1. Smaller leaf size.2. Fuller and stronger plant structure.3. Petiole length is 6-8 cm. The parent petiole length is 12 cm.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DKIRA95’ are comparable to the unpatented,commercial variety Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’. The two Heuchera varietiesare similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the newvariety ‘DKIRA95’ differs in the following:

1. Dark Bronze leaf color of ‘Palace Purple’ compared to Silver-Greenwith Purple rims of ‘DKIRA95’.2. Medium leaf size of ‘Palace Purple’ compared to large leaf size of‘DKIRA95’.3. Spiny leaf margins of ‘Palace Purple’ compared to crenate leaf marginof “DKIRA95’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DKIRA95’ can also be comparable to thecommercial variety Heuchera ‘Caramel’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,560. Thetwo Heuchera varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘DKIRA95’ differs in thefollowing:

1. Orange to pale yellow leaf color of ‘Caramel’ compared toSilver-Green with Purple rims of ‘DKIRA95’.2. Medium leaf size of ‘Caramel’ compared to large leaf size of‘DKIRA95’.3. ‘Caramel’ is very sensitive to direct sunlight at the garden, whereas‘DKIRA95’ can tolerate full sunlight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DKIRA95’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rooted cutting.FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage. The photographs were takenusing conventional techniques and although colors may appear differentfrom actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate aspossible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DKIRA95’ plants grown in a greenhouse, inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 18°C. to 28° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 18° C. during the night.General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Heuchera ‘DKIRA95’-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Cutting.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 days at approximately 25°            C.        -   Root description.—White, fleshy, fibrous.        -   Greenhouse production.—Approximately 12-16 weeks from            Transplanting in 12 cm pot (refers to growing inside the            greenhouse, when rooted in early fall will bloom at mid            winter or early spring for long period).-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 12 weeks.        -   Container size of the plant described.—12 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Mounded.        -   Height.—Approximately 25-30 cm. to top of foliage. (When            plants are flowering — height is 60-70 cm to top of            flowers).        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 30 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Branching characteristics.—No lateral branches, foliage            emerges from basal rosette.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Rosette — Single Compound or single:            Single Shape of blade: Overall narrow deltoid, with deep            lobes. Average Length: Approximately 12-14 cm. Average            Width: Approximately 12 cm. Apex: Broadly obtuse, lobed            Base: Cordate Attachment: Petiolate Margin: Crenate, gentle            ciliate. Texture of top surface: Slightly rough (because of            venation), slight pubescence. Texture of bottom surface:            Slightly rough (because of venation) Leaf internode length:            No internodes Color: Marbled effect of dark green veins with            silver-purple-red (younger leaves) or silver-green (mature            leaves) interveinal areas. Young foliage upper side: Closest            to Greyed-Purple N187B R.H.S. Young foliage under side:            Closest to Greyed-Purple N186C R.H.S Mature foliage upper            side: Closest to Purple N77C R.H.S., margins near            Greyed-Purple N186A. Mature foliage under side: Closest to            Purple N77A R.H.S. Venation: Type: Reticulated Venation            color upper side: Young leaf — Near Purple N77A R.H.S.            Mature leaf — Near Greyed-Green N189 R.H.S. Venation color            under side: Young leaf — Near Red-purple 59A R.H.S. Mature            leaf — Near Greyed-Purple group 187A Durability of foliage            to stresses: Good durability to full sun exposure, and            drought.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 6-8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.15-0.2 cm. Color: Near Approximately Red            purple 64B Strength: Strong, flexible, not easily breaking.        -   Other foliage characteristics.—Slightly metallic. Color            changes when leaf matures: when young, leaf is            purple-red-silver and when mature, leaf is silver-green with            purple rims.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Natural Season: Under moderate climate such as            in Israel — will bloom continuously from Winter to early            Summer. Under typical European weather, will bloom from May            through August in the Northern Hemisphere. Flowering data            not available at the time of submission.-   Reproductive organs: Currently out of flowering season.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Heuchera have            been observed.        -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance.—Hardy perennial USDA            zone 4. Tolerates some drought without significant damage to            plant.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Color and Shape of Fruits and Seeds :            Dark Brown seeds, round shape, 0.05 cm length×0.05 cm wide.            Too minute to measure color with R.H.S.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Heuchera plantnamed ‘DKIRA95’ as herein illustrated and described.